TERATOLOGY 62:301–316 (2000) A History of the Teratology Society THOMAS H. SHEPARD,1* MASON BARR, JR.,2 ROBERT L. BRENT,3,4 5,6 7 8,9 ANDREW HENDRICKX, DEVENDRA KOCHHAR, GODFREY OAKLEY, AND WILLIAM J. SCOTT, JR.10 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 2Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 3DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware 19899 4Department of Pediatrics, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 5University of California, Davis, California 95616 6California Regional Primate Research Center, Davis, California 95616 7Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 9Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 10Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION A history should record and honor the past, help plan Background: The 39-year history of the Teratology for the future, and entertain the reader. In 1998, Philip Society is reviewed. An abbreviated history is outlined Mirkes, the president of the Teratology Society, asked in table form, along with listings of the Warkany Lec- the authors to write a history of the Teratology Society tures, the postgraduate courses, and officers of the to coincide with the year 2000. The content of this Society. publication is summarized as follows. Table 1 presents the Society’s presidents, meeting place, and key Methods: A year-by-year description of the events, changes in the Society’s function; Table 2 lists all the including the scientific and social content of the annual officers, with their place of work, Table 3 outlines the meetings and changes in the business of the Society, Warkany Lectures; and Table 4 lists the education is given, in many cases using comments from the past courses. A year-by-year description of events detailing presidents. The valuable and unique diversity of the the activities for each year is given, but this begins in members is discussed and illustrated, presenting the 1967–1968, since Wilson and Warkany (’85) previously disciplines and main research area of the presidents. covered the preceding years. In these accounts, we The number of submitted abstracts and the various have asked the past presidents to assist and provide categories are tabulated, averaging the number and interesting and amusing anecdotes. A section on the type over four periods. Within the past 10 years, a diversity of the Society has been included, as we believe significant increase in the number of abstracts dealing that one of our unique valuable assets is the contribu- with epidemiology and developmental biology is evi- tion from many scientific disciplines from molecular genetics to epidemiology and dysmorphology in the dent. The Society’s development is compared with that study of teratology. The scientific methods used in the of a human, and the question is asked: Have we yearly abstracts have been classified and counted in reached the maturational stage of old age or senes- order to give some idea of how the Society’s research cence, or is the Society still maturing gracefully? This techniques and approaches have changed over the past question needs further discussion by all the members. 40 years. Lastly, we attempted to compare the Society’s life with that of a human and asked the question: Is our Results: During the past 40 years, we have developed Society in its middle age or old age or, worse, senes- the scientific basis to prevent birth defects caused by cence? We believe that the Society should be proud of rubella, alcoholism, and folate deficiency, as well as its past, but we should not be mired in nostalgia. In many other prenatal exposures. other, simpler, words, it is proper to look back but not to stare. Conclusions: We must now engage in the political battles to obtain the resources needed to conduct further research and to implement the prevention pro- *Correspondence to: Thomas H. Shepard, Birth Defects Research grams, as well as to provide care and rehabilitation for Laboratory, Box 356320, University of Washington, Seattle, WA persons with birth defects. 98195-6320. E-mail: [email protected] Teratology 62:301–316, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Received 7 January 2000; Accepted 14 April 2000 © 2000 WILEY-LISS, INC. 302 SHEPARD ET AL. TABLE 1. Abbreviated history of Teratology Society Year of Business and meeting President Meeting site Key topics administration 1961 J. Warkany Cincinnati, OH Organization of society, chromosomal defects 1962 J.G. Wilson Gainesville, FL Chromosomal defects, developmental genetics 1963 F.C. Fraser Ste. Adele, Quebec Thalidomide, cellular basics of development, teratogenic agents 1964 D.A. Karnofsky Harriman, NY Epidemiology, cellular basis of development, and M.M. teratogenic agents Nelson 1965 I.W. Monie San Francisco, CA Viruses, oncogenesis 1966 S.Q. Cohlan Corpus Christi, TX Riboflavin deficiency, primate model pesticides 1967 M.N. Runner Estes Park, CO X-irradiation, mechanism of thalidomide, fluid problems in the embryo 1968 R.L. Brent Buck Hill Falls, PA Immunology, Trypan blue Dr. H. Kalter, first editor of Teratology 1969 T.H. Shepard Crystal Mountain, WA Whole embryo culture (Dennis New); thalidomide, isoenzymes 1970 R.W. Miller Annapolis, MD Di George syndrome pharmacokinetics 1971 J. Langman Williamsburg, VA 1972 S. Pruzansky Brown’s Lake, WI Transplacental carcinogenesis, cartilagenous dwarfism 1973 D.G. Trasler St. Jovite, Quebec Potato blight, male sexual development 1974 J.R. Miller Vancouver, BC Fetal alcohol and other syndromes, placental morphology, animal testing 1975 E.M. Johnson Pocono Manor, PA Developmental pharmacology, preclinical Concurrent sessions at teratology testing meeting 1976 L.S. Hurley Carmel, CA Cleft palate epidemiology, Down syndrome, Poster sessions started copper deficiency, and mutant gene quaking mice, immunology and teratogenesis 1977 J.L. Sever Reston, VA Estrogen and birth defects, mesoderm in R.L. Brent, editor of polydactyly, terathanasia, preventive Teratology methods, teratomas, postnatal defects 1978 E.V. Perrin Mackinac Island, MI Ethical issues, polybrominated biphenyls, molecular biology 1979 A.R. Beaudoin Cedar, MI Biomechanical factors; mutational rates, Wilson Young Investigator limb defects Award started 1980 R.M. Hoar Portsmouth, NH Fetal alcohol syndrome, facial clefts 1981 C.A. Swinyard Palo Alto, CA Ethanol, radiation, workplace hazards, Public Affairs Committee Bendectin trial initiated 1982 W.J. Scott French Lick, IN Developmental neurotoxicology of opiates, receptors, in vitro embryo culture, prevention of congenital defects, drug metabolism 1983 D.M. Kochhar Atlantic City, NJ Neurotoxicity of heavy metals, expert witness, growth factors, gene insertion 1984 R.E. Staples Boca Raton, FL Bendectin 1985 G.P. Oakley Pine Mountain, GA Risk assessment, teratology answering services 1986 L.B. Holmes Boston, MA Hyperthermia, postnatal outcome with lead and cocaine 1987 A.G. Hendrickx Rancho Mirage, CA Diabetic embryopathy, yolk sac, chemical First meeting of disposition and toxicity, regulation and Organization of legislative process Teratology Information Services (OTIS) 1988 C.T. Grabowski W. Palm Beach, FL Teratology in 1990s; advances in morphology 1989 M.S. Christian Richmond, VA Male infertility; retinoids, regulatory issues, Vice-President-elect position lead and behavior, developmental biology, initiated; position paper computers and teratology information on retinoids, Student Travel Awards started 1990 E.F. Zimmerman Victoria, BC Homeotic genes, apoptosis, cocaine 1991 C.A. Kimmel Boca Raton, FL Preimplantation teratology, the war to Business office with prevent congenital defects, developmental executive secretary neurotoxicology, molecular targets in the established embryo, Accutane 1992 R.K. Miller Boca Raton, FL Prevention of neural tube defects, genetic teratology 1993 M. Barr Tucson, AZ Molecular approaches, occupational hazards T.W. Sadler, editor of Teratology 1994 J.W. Hanson Puerto Rico 1995 J.M. Desesso Newport Beach, CA Risk assessment, trophoblast cells, folic acid, neural crest, antioxidants 1996 K.K. Sulik Keystone, CO Molecular mechanisms, maternal nutrition, retinoids 1997 J.F. Cordero W. Palm Beach, FL Apoptosis, molecular mechanisms of L.B. Holmes, editor of pharmacology, targeted gene disruption, Teratology regulation of apoptosis 1998 P.E. Mirkes San Diego, CA Genetic susceptibility, gene mapping, legal F. Clarke Fraser Young cases, arsenic, name change for society Investigator Award initiated; New professional management team (ADG) was hired 1999 A.R. Scialli Keystone, CO Apoptosis, oxidative stress, skeletal development, and postmarket surveillance of drugs 2000 G.P. Daston W. Palm Beach, FL A HISTORY OF THE TERATOLOGY SOCIETY 303 TABLE 2. Alphabetical list of past and present officers of the Teratology Society Council Name Institution President Secretary/treasurer Treasurer member Barr, M., Jr. University of Michigan 1992–1993 1986–1988 Beaudoin, A.R. University of Michigan 1978–1979 1971–1974 Benirschke, K. University of California, San Diego 1963–1965 Brent, R.L. du Pont Hospital for Children and 1967–1968 Jefferson Medical College Brown, K.S. NIDS 1983–1985 Christian, M.S. Argus Research Laboratory 1988–1989 1983–1987 Cohlan, S.Q. New York University 1965–1966 1960–1964 Cordero, J.F. Centers for Disease Control 1996–1997